Shoe-cleaning mask



y 1966 D. F. HOWSBERGER 3,262,222

SHOE-CLEANING MASK Filed Dec. 13, 1963 INVENTOR. DOROTHEA F. HOWSBERGERWW 2 all 71 7a,,

ATTORNEYS United States Patent 0. F

3,262,222 SHOE-CLEANING MASK Dorothea F. Howsberger, Nebert Ave., SouthWeymouth, Mass.

Filed Dec. 13, 1963, Ser. No. 330,348 3 Claims. (Cl. 36-72) The presentinvention relates generally to shoe-cleaning accessories and moreparticularly is directed towards an improved mask for use in cleaningshoes of the type having portions of different colors or tones.

Shoes which have areas of different colors are difficult to clean in asatisfactory manner because of the colored stains or polishes runningover from an area of one color to an area of a different color. Infantsshoes, for example, are made with white uppers, while the leather solesretain their natural color. When the shoes are new, the sole edge isclear of any whitening whereas, after the shoe has been cleaned once ortwice, the sole edge becomes marked by the whitening unless extreme careis taken when applying the Whitening to the upper.

Various types of guards and masks have been developed heretofore for thepurpose of protecting one surface of a shoe from another surface whenspraying, cleaning and polishing the same, but these have beenunsatisfactory for various reasons. For example, some shoe-cleaningmasks are complicated mechanical affairs which are useful only in themanufacture of shoes and would be unsuitable for home usage. Other typesof guards designed for home use have been too expensive, awkward orineficient for the purposes intended.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provideimprovements in shoe-cleaning masks.

Another object of this invention is to provide a simple, low-costshoe-cleaning mask that is completely effective and particularly usefulfor home cleaning and dyeing of multi-tone shoes.

More particularly, this invention features a shoe-cleaning mask in theform of a web of moisture-resistant thin sheet material that isself-supporting but laterally resilient. The mask is formed with acentral opening conforming to the outline of the shoe and dimensioned tofit snugly between the sole and the upper to define an outwardlyextending detachable flange between the sole and the upper. The web issplit, preferably at the heel portion thereof, to permit quick and easyattachment and detachment of the mask from the shoe.

As another feature of the invention, a single mask may be employed for apair of shoes since it may be turned over for use with either shoe. Thisinvention also fea tures a shoe cleaning mask which may be convenientlyadjusted to accommodate different sizes of shoes. In addition, theinvention features a shoe-cleaning mask provided with attachment shieldsfor use in cleaning and dyeing saddle shoes and other types havingmultiple-tone uppers.

But these and other features of the invention, along with furtherobjects and advantages thereof, will become more fully apparent from thefollowing detailed description of preferred embodiments of theinvention, with reference being made to the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of a shoe-shield made according to theinvention,

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a shield shown in operating position ona shoe,

FIG. 3 is a top plan view showing a modification of the invention,

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3,

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view showing another modification ofthe invention,

3,262,222 Patented July 26, l 966 FIG. 6 is a view in perspectiveshowing a further modification of the invention, and,

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 7-7 of FIG. 6.

Referring now to the drawings, the reference character 10 generallyindicates a mask for use in cleaning the uppers 12 of a shoe 14. Themask MB is in the form of a web of sheet material which is moistureimpervious, with a smooth hard surface, self-supporting and yetlaterally resilient. In the preferred form of this invention, the maskis fabricated from a relatively hard molded plastic material which lendsitself to ready cleaning as by a damp cloth or die cut from a sheet ofrelatively stiff plastic material. Alternatively, the mask may befabricated from semi-hardened rubber or a stiff sheet of paperboardmaterial having a hard outer surface which may be coated or impregnatedwith a plastic film if desired to improve its moisture resistance andcleanability characteristics. Other suitable materials such as celluloidor cellulose acetate may be used to advantage.

The mask is formed with a central opening 16 which conforms in size andshape to the outline of the shoe upper 12 where it joins the sole, thisjuncture being sometimes referred to as the welt edge. The masking bandor strip typically is about /2 inch or so in width and is continuousabout the entire shoe. In practice, the mask is split at 18 which is atthe heel portion of the shoe to permit the butted ends of the sides tobe flexed apart so that the mask may be conveniently mounted on the shoeas suggested in FIG. 2. With the mask 10 in position as shown in FIG. 2,a close fitting flange extends outwardly from the shoe 14 between thesole and the upper to permit shoe cleaning, dyeing or polishing agentsto be applied freely to the shoe upper 12 without the same running downonto the sole. It will be appreciated that the mask 10 will prevent anyshoe cleaning material from accidentally brushing against or runningdown onto the sole edge so that when the mask is removed the sole edgewill be completely free of cleaning material used on the upper.

The mask may be fabricated for men, women and chil drens shoes in anumber of different sizes corresponding to the various shoes sizes and asingle mask will serve a pair of shoes by simply inverting the mask.Preferably, the mask should be wiped clean each time it is to be used toprevent any residue from rubbing off onto the sole edge.

The mask may be readily mass produced at an extremely low cost and isparticularly useful in cleaning infants shoes and childrens shoes. Asingle mask may be provided with each pair of shoes by a shoemanufacturer and may be fabricated at such a low cost that the masks maybe discarded when new shoes are purchased.

In FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 there are illustrated modifications of the inventionto permit adjustment of the mask to different sizes of shoes. In theFIG. 3 embodiment, a mask 20 is formed with two U-shaped portions 22 and24, the legs of which are slidably connected to a pair of sleeves 26. Itwill be understood that the mask may be made to accommodate differentsize shoes by merely pulling apart or pushing together the two U-shapedportions 22 and 24.

In the FIG. 5 embodiment a mask 28 is again formed into two U-shapedportions 30 and 32 which connect together at either side of the instepof the shoe by means of a series of spaced bosses 34 formed at the endof each leg of the U-shaped portion 32 and adapted to be snapped intoengagement with selected openings 36 spaced along both legs of the otherU-shaped portion 30.

Referring now more particularly to FIGS. 6 and 7, there is illustrated ashoe mask useful in cleaning and polishing saddle shoes or similar typeshaving several areas of different colors. In the FIGS. 6 and 7,embodiment a mask 38, similar to the mask of the principal embodiment,is adapted for mounting along the welt edge of the shoe between the soleand the upper to protect the sole edge from cleaners applied to theuppers. In a typical saddle shoe, such as shown in FIG. 6, a toe portion40 is white as is the portion 41 at the sides of the heel. The shoequarters 42 as well as the heel portion 44 are usually black, blue orsome other contrasting color. In order to prevent shoe whitening fromrunning over to the darker quarter portions, a mask 46 is detachablymounted on either side of the shoe to cover the shoe quarters and a heelmask 48 is similarly mounted in the rearward portion thereof.

As shown, the quarter mask 46 is formed with a bottom tongue 50 which isreceived in an edgewise slot 52 formed in the inner edge of the mask 38so that the quarter mask 46 may be removed when polish is being appliedto the shoe quarters 42. The quarter mask 46 conforms in outline to theshoe quarters 42 having a curved forward portion 54 and a transverseportion 56 which terminates at the forward end of the shoe quarters atthe bottom of the lacings. It is unnecessary to extend the mask furthersince shoe whitening is not normally applied up into the tongue of theshoe. The quarter mask 46 is also formed with a generally verticalrearward edge 58 which follows the rear edge of the shoe quarter 42.

In the practice of the invention, the quarter shield 46 is formed with ashallow, inwardly turned marginal lip 60 which is formed along theforward edges of the shield, and another lip 62 is formed on therearward edge thereof to precisely position the shield in place and toprovide a mask for the forward and rearward edges of the shoe quarterswhich normally overlies other portions of the uppers. The heel mask 48is similarly formed with a lip 64 on either side thereof having a tongue66 for insertion in an arcuate slot formed in the heel portion of themask 38.

While the invention has been described with particular reference to theillustrated embodiments, it will be understood that numerousmodifications thereto will appear to those skilled in the art. Also itwill be understood that the above description and accompanying drawingsshould be taken as illustrative of the invention and not in a limitingsense.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to obtain byLetters Patent of the United States is:

1. A shoe mask for protecting the sole of a shoe from polish applied tothe upper, comprising a fiat one piece web of thin moisture-resistantsheet material, said material being self-supporting yet with suflicientlateral resiliency to permit limited flexing thereof, said mask beingformed with an opening conforming in outline to the shape of a shoe anddimensioned to permit said mask to be fitted between said sole and saidupper, said mask being split to facilitate attachment and detachment toand from said shoe by spreading said mask apart, said mask being formedwith slots along the inner edges thereof and detachable panels eachbeing formed with a tongue for insertion in said slots, said panels whenmounted to said mask covering selected areas of the shoe upper.

2. A shoe mask according to claim 1 wherein each of said panels isformed with shallow marginal lips along portions overlying said uppers.

3. A show mask for protecting the sole of a shoe from polish applied tothe upper, comprising a fiat, one-piece web of a relatively stiff, thin,moisture-resistant sheet material, said material being self-supportingyet with sufiicient lateral resiliency to permit limited flexingthereof, said mask being formed with an opening conforming in outline tothe shape of the shoe upper where it joins the sole and dimensioned topermit said mask and to be fitted between said sole and said upper, saidweb being split at one end thereof to facilitate attachment anddetachment to and from said shoe by spreading said mask apart at saidsplit.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,084,948 6/ 1937De Cuir 36-72 2,114,045 4/ 1938 Brickner 36-72 2,170,652 8/1939 Brennan36-72 2,182,949 12/ 1939 Staresina 36-72 2,202,560 5/ 1940 Kloza 36-722,261,102 11/1941 Becker 36-72 2,747,304 5/ 1956 Linenkohl 36-72 FRANKJ. COHEN, Primary Examiner

1. A SHOE MASK FOR PROTECTING THE SOLE OF A SHOE FROM POLISH APPLIED TOTHE UPPER, COMPRISING A FLAT ONE PIECE WEB OF THIN MOISTURE-RESISTANTSHEET MATERIAL, SAID MATERIAL BEING SELF-SUPPORTING YET WITH SUFFICIENTLATERAL RESILIENCY TO PERMIT LIMITED FLEXING THEREOF, SAID MASK BEINGFORMED WITH AN OPENING CONFORMING IN OUTLINE TO THE SHAPE OF A SHOE ANDDIMENSIONED TO PERMIT SAID MASK TO BE FITTED BETWEEN SAID SOLE AND SAIDUPPER, SAID MASK BEING SPLIT TO FACILITATE ATTACHMENT AND DETACHMENT TOAND FROM SAID SHOE BY SPREADING SAID MASK APART, SAID MASK BEINGDEFORMED WITH SLOTS ALONG THE INNER EDGES THEREOF AND DETACHABLE PANELSEACH BEING FORMED WITH A TONGUE FOR INSERTION IN SAID SLOTS, SAID PANELSWHEN MOUNTED TO SAID MASK COVERING SELECTED AREAS OF THE SHOE UPPER.